USA Field Hockey calls up North Carolina sophomore Ashley Hoffman

USA Field Hockey called up North Carolina sophomore Ashley Hoffman to the senior team on Thursday, making Hoffman the youngest player on the U.S. team.

After Hoffman had a strong showing at the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Cup, U.S. Women’s National Team’s Head Coach Janneke Schopman called the Tar Heel up to the national squad.

“Ashley has been part of the U-21 U.S. Women’s National Team since 2014 and has shown continuous improvement in that team throughout the years,” Schopman told the U.S. Olympic team. “Her performance for the U-21’s at the Junior World Cup and in Chula Vista made me believe she was ready for an opportunity with the U.S. Women’s National Team in New Zealand. There, she convinced me and the rest of the staff that she is ready for the international level of competition and therefore I have added her to the squad. We will work closely together with her college to make sure that both academically and on the field she will thrive.”

Hoffman first made her presence known in the field hockey world when she was named to the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team in 2013 and was also named to the U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team that same year. In 2014, she joined the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team and has been with the team since then.

While playing for the Tar Heels, she was named All-South Region Second-Team and was the recipient of the team’s Ken and Cheryl Williams Rookie of the Year award in 2015. She then followed that up by being named to the All-South Region First-Team, and All-ACC Tournament Team this past fall.

With two years of college remaining, Hoffman will join the USWNT’s centralized training program at the Home of Hockey at Spooky Nook Sports in Pennsylvania when her schedule allows.

Last month, Hoffman was one of 19 women representing the U.S. in New Zealand at the Vantage Hawke’s Bay Cup. In a scrimmage against the host country on March 25, the North Carolina sophomore scored for her first senior international goal.

“To play at the senior level alongside such inspiring women, and to represent something that is so much bigger than yourself is the greatest a honor,” Hoffman told Team USA. “Being arm in arm singing the national anthem on the pitch in New Zealand was surreal, and I don’t think I will ever get used to it. I feel blessed to be on the team and thank God for this amazing opportunity.”